1908→

William D. Thompson, President Jackson City Bank, puts his mansion on the market: 406 N. Blackman Street, Jackson, MI (Circa 1875) The three-story, 25 room mansion was filled with teak woodworking, six marble fireplaces, ornate frescoes, imported carpets, and crystal chandeliers. It included a rare willow tree transplanted from Napoleon Bonaparte’s grave.

1908→

Rev. Joseph F. Herr, First Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jackson, MI. He ministered to the Polish Community in Jackson, MI. He informed Mother Mary Magdalen Bronek of the Thompson Property. Rev. Herr recommended an academy, an educational institution that would help the Polish Community. Mother Magdalen investigated the property and secured permissions for the purchase of the property as an academy or an orphanage.

March 19, 1909→

Mother Mary Magdalen Bronek purchased the property, the 3 story mansion with 11 acres surrounding it with a loan for $35,000. Mr. August Steiber, a Felician Community benefactor extended a $15,000 interest-free loan to the province and later donated half the sum to the institution. Mr. August Detlaff, father of Sister M. Honorata donated $15,000 gave another interest-free loan for $15,000.

April 19, 1911→

Remodeling plans were in full swing. The floor-length mirrors in the main salon were replaced by an altar and the fireplace became a side altar. Pews were put in and the room became the main chapel. 

June 1911→

S. M. Honorata Detlaff was assigned to prepare the Thompson Mansion for use as an academy.

1912→

Felician aspirants (45 young women seeking to become Felician Sisters) were transferred from Detroit to Jackson. S. M. DeSales was their Director. Many Felician Sisters joined S. M. DeSales in the teaching of the aspirants. After one year, the Felician Leadership in Detroit determined that the spiritual and educational development of their youngest candidates would be better served at the Detroit Motherhouse. The Sisters and Aspirants won acceptance and respect for the Polish People from the people of Jackson, who regarded it an honor to have such an exclusive academy in their city. This is what Rev. Joseph F. Herr had hoped would happen.

1912→

From Biennial Report for Michigan Corrections and Charities

Oct 12, 1912→

St. Joseph Home for Boys began with 7 orphan boys given to them by the state of Michigan. They also received 20 orphans who came from Polonia and Manitowoc, WI orphanages that the Felician Sisters ran. Child care in Jackson began.

1912→

St. Joseph Home was incorporated and approved to care for sixty boys. In the years that followed, care, shelter, and education were given to orphaned, homeless, dependent, and neglected boys between ages and 14.

This Copper Beech tree was located on the front lawn of St. Joseph Home for Boys, only recently it was destroyed by a lightning strike. This tree was Jackson’s State Champion Copper Beech Tree in 2003.

1913+→

Early times were extremely difficult, and the Sisters were forced to solicit donations from the community. On the first collection, one of the Sisters received a bone and a loaf of stale bread. The second attempt brought a tub of burnt doughnuts that a baker could not sell. Gradually the city’s assistance grew. The warden from Jackson State Prison frequently sent milk, meat, eggs and fresh vegetables. He would offer inmates to help with maintenance projects. After a year the people in Jackson grew to trust the Sisters and the cause and began to support St. Joseph Home for Boys.

1926→

The United Fund Community Chest offered Joseph Home for Boys. Later this would become United Way of Jackson in 1973.

1913-1945→

The Felician Sisters conducted an elementary school at St. Joseph Home for Boys.

1932-1937→

S. M. Stephen, the Administrator, told the Jackson Citizen Patriot Newspaper, that the Home almost closed in 1932 due to lack of funds. They had only $42 in their coffers to feed 50 boys for an entire month. The Sisters solicited donations from anyone they could to keep the doors open. In 1937 a Ladies Auxiliary was organized to support the home.

1938→

Mr. Frank Hoffman, music teacher and band director, who proceeded Rev. Sonsalla, contributed his services twice a week to St. Joseph boys for more than 28 years. The boys played for religious events as well as civic and community activities. Mr. Hoffman attended all events

1952→

Institutions were beginning programs to benefit the whole child. S. M. Arcadia Solek, Felician Social Worker, stated that “emphasis is put on the whole child in play, industry and religion.” The people of Jackson, fraternal and church organizations, businessmen, and even work details of inmates from the state prison in Jackson, had throughout the home’s history, spared no effort in trying to compensate for a normal family life.

1963→

The Jackson city fire marshal declared St. Joseph Home for Boys a fire hazard.

1963→

Adaptions were always being made as the Felician Sisters worked in close cooperation with the state and private social agencies, diocesan charities, and other child care associations. Children were no longer of Polish descent and with one or no parents living. The new child being referred also came from divorced, abused, negligent, or deserted from their families. The Felician Sisters began making provisions for the new home to house both boys and girls so that the family groups would remain unbroken.

1986→

From 1912 – 1968 the Sisters served over 3,280 boys who benefited from the programs at St. Joseph Home for Boys. The Thompson Mansion was sold for $90,000 to Archer Development for a possible Ramada Inn site for 120 units. The Mansion was dismantled piece by piece from doorknobs to shutters. Plans for the hotel fell through, the Archer later secured the site to build Van Buren Apartments, now known as Abbey Villas.

1960-1968→

1.2 million dollars was raised through fundraising and donations to open the new residence on Porter Street. S. M. Arcadia Solek was the Administrator during this time. She is here presenting Mr. Herrick’s portrait with Mr. Clark. Mr. Herrick was one of the donors for one of the wings at the new St. Joseph home for Children. In 1963 St. Joseph Home for Boys took in Cuban Refugees. Although they were older, they took them until the State moved them within a year.

May 21, 1967→

Groundbreaking in 1967 with Bishop Alexander M. Zaleski, second Bishop of the Lansing Diocese.

Summer 1968→

Air view of St. Joseph Home for Children, Inc. on 1000 Porter Street in Jackson, MI. and the inside of the chapel.

1968→

When children moved into the new St. Joseph Home for Children in 1968, their pets moved with them. This included a green parakeet named Pete, dogs Patches and Topsy, and a 4- 4-month-old St. Bernard puppy named Pal.

In January 1969, a huggable dog called Patches and a glowing fireplace in the St. Joseph Home for Children’s new $200,000 girls’ wing, provide comfort and security for 7-year-olds Bonnie Lee Sabin, left, and Cathy A. Zwiers. The two are the newly dedicated wing’s first residents. (File photo | MLIve.com)

April 1968→

The 1968 Annual Dinner for the Auxiliary Ladies Board and Thank you dinner for the Donors who gave so generously for the St. Joseph Home, Inc. The boys entertained the group.

1972→

St. Joseph for Children, Inc. opens its doors for a new chapter. The home included three units for boys and one unit for girls, with the entire building having been planned and constructed according to advanced concepts of modern childcare. S M. Jean Rogoazewski, Administrator, the last Christmas as an orphanage.

1971→

In 1971, members of the Jackson Board of Realtors volunteered to be “parents for a day” to treat kids from the St. Joseph Home for Children to a day at the Jackson County Fair. (File photo | MLIve.com)

1973→

Gerald Gibbons, first lay director, with S. M. Noel Labiak, Administrator and a Social Worker. S. M. Noel ushered in a new phase of getting the laity involved. They also had counseling meetings to see what was best for each child. St, Joseph Home for Children, Inc. became part of foster care with referrals again from the state. This would last until 1975.

S. Jane Marie Lebiedzinski would join S. M. Noel, Gerald, and the social workers for counseling meetings.

1973-1975→

Besides Gerald Gibbons, the rest of the child care services included two social workers, two teachers (Felician Sisters), four hall supervisors (Felician Sisters), six full-time child care workers, two part-time child care workers, one resident nurse, and the consultant services of a psychiatrist and two clinical psychologists from Beth Moser Mental Health Clinic.

1973-1975→

Various activities with the Sisters and/or children of St. Joseph Home for Children, Inc.

1975→

Michigan Social Services cut drastically the number of referrals to St. Joseph Home for Children in order to comply with the prevailing philosophy of childcare that advocated placement in foster homes rather than in group residential settings.

1976→

Recognizing the need for quality childcare in Jackson, the Felician Sisters did not terminate services in the Jackson area. Instead, it modified the home’s program by phasing out the residential program and by starting a preschool daycare center in 1976 to provide care for the children of economically disadvantaged and those of single working parents.

2009→

The Felician Sisters conducted a study to determine the future viability of St. Joseph Home for Children’s property and programs operating on the site. Following a market need and financial analysis, it was determined the investment required to maintain the facilities would be significant.

2011-2012→

From 2010 through 2012, efforts were made to explore potential utilization of the property by other tenants who could share the maintenance facilities’ expenses. With the addition of Bethany as a new tenant in 2008, additional revenue was available. Bethany provides affordable housing units for elderly residents. Discussion with other potential tenants occurred during this period but the intended use sought was deemed in conflict with the daycare, convent, and senior living on site. As these leasing discussions ended, the Board of Directors authorized a new series of market feasibility studies of the Jackson campus.

Sept 2011→

In September 2011, the first phase of the study was completed, with the general findings suggesting that there is sufficient capacity for market-rate daycare in the Jackson community. The study also found that it would be difficult in its current location for the daycare program to increase enrollment enough to cover expenses. What was uncovered in speaking to community human service professionals was a need for affordable or subsidized care (as state funding had been significantly reduced). The Porter Street location was also identified as being less accessible to those most in need. The Jackson human services providers felt that the Felician Sisters could be a catalyst for bringing community partners together in a collaborative approach to address the systemic issues related to family development and support.

2011-2012→

With this insight, the Board of Directors approved Phase II of the study to identify potential collaborative partners and determine their interest in a collaborative partnership. The interested parties would be invited to the campus to ascertain if the Jackson site was viable. Following the results of the study, the Board realized that the likelihood of running a daycare program on the site for the long term was not viable. With losses mounting each month, the Board formed an ad hoc Planning Committee to determine whether a model for collaboration could be developed and a site identified.

Further study revealed that an opportunity existed to provide child care services, in the context of addressing systemic issues related to poverty, in collaboration with local human service providers if provided in a central location (educating parents through job training, life skills, adult literacy, etc.). Local social services leaders were enthusiastic about working with the Felician Sisters in a collaborative effort. Furthermore, financial analysis of the current child care and St. Joseph Home for Children, Inc. (SJHC) campus confirmed that the programs and campus subsidy needs were significant and that the campus was not the optimal location for a collaborative initiative for addressing systemic human service needs in Jackson. The ad hoc Planning Committee explored several alternative locations and commissioned a feasibility study for the two identified as most optimal.

March 23, 2013→

The SJHC Board of Directors were faced with the difficult decision to either continue to subsidize the current daycare program at St. Joseph until funds were depleted, which was estimated to be within two years or to conserve funds in order to pursue opening a new Center which would continue to minister to families in Jackson into the future. After a great deal of serious reflection and deliberation, the SJHC Board passed a resolution to close the St. Joseph Day Care Center at its current location on June 28, 2013. While the hope had been to provide a seamless transition from one Center to the next for the St. Joseph staff and interested families, it was determined that was not a possibility. The pending closure was announced to staff, families, and the Jackson community on March 22, 2013.

June 2, 2013→

community on Director of St. Joseph Day Care Center, Lezlie Bowles, speaks during a prayer service in honor of the Felician Sisters at St. Joseph Day Care Center

June 2, 2013→

Jackson resident Gloria Moreno lays down paper hands symbolizing how the staff of St. Joseph Day Care Center has held the hands of children over the years during a prayer service in honor of the Felician Sisters.

June 21, 2013→

Parents of about 50 kids who attend St. Joseph Day Care Center are scrambling to find other options until the center relocates in 2014. St. Joseph Day Care Center, 1000 E. Porter Road, will close its doors on June 28 to pursue and save money for a new state-of-the-art center, said Cindy Ciura, who is handling public relations during the move. St. Joseph's has cared for kids for more than 100 years.

1968-2013→

The Felician Sisters and laity served 4,427 children from 1968 to 2013. More images of closing of Porter Street Prayer Service.

2013-2014→

With the desire to continue the Felician tradition of responding to changes in the social service needs of children and families, the Felician Sisters are working toward opening a new daycare center in downtown Jackson by the fall of 2014. The new program will continue to meet the needs in the community for quality daycare and, as in the past, serve as a means to maintain the sanctity and emotional and economic stability of families. As they had in their first 100 hundred years in Jackson, the Felician Sisters will continue to provide economically disadvantaged and single working parents much-needed support for their preschool children into the next millennium.

The ad-hoc committee members were Maria Mueller, Administrator of St. Joseph, and Committee Members: Jeremy Colwell, Frank Berkheimer, S. M. Alfonsa Van Overberghe, S. M. Margaret Kijek, Mary Cunningham DeLuca, and S. M. Carolyn Ratkowski worked together to locate the new childcare. Their research found a need for infant childcare closer to the city of Jackson. They also did feasibility with United Way. This, however, never worked out.

January 12, 2015→

Meeting Monday, Jan. 12, the Jackson School Board unanimously approved a tentative agreement that would allow the Felician Sisters to share the building at 205 Seymour Ave. that's been shuttered since 2009.

The building would open at the start of the 2015-16 school year under a three-year deal that still must be approved by the Felician Sisters, which operated the St. Joseph Day Care Center at 1000 E. Porter Road until it closed in 2013.

"This is an opportunity for us to offer something we don't have and create an opportunity to bring new students to JPS," Beal said. "It's part of a bigger plan to make JPS more competitive not just with the schools around Jackson County, but around the state as well."

June 2014→

Work is underway to turn a once-shuttered Jackson Public Schools building back into a thriving center for children. When school resumes on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, the Amy Firth School, 205 Seymour Ave., will reopen as the JPS Montessori Center and Felician Children's Center.

Inside will be a free JPS-operated Montessori-based public school kindergarten program and a fee-based Montessori and child care program for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children offered by the Felician Sisters.

The child care and preschool program, which includes a drop-in program for families qualifying for short-term child care, is a return to Jackson for the Felician Sisters. Beginning with the St. Joseph Home for Boys in 1912, they operated a children's facility here for more than a century before closing the St. Joseph Day Care Center at 1000 E. Porter Road in 2013 to seek a new location. They currently have a three-year lease with JPS for this facility.

The Felician Sisters are leasing six classrooms at $8,000 per room from JPS and are paying half the salary of the building secretary and custodian, which offsets the renovation cost, Ruddell said. They also paid $48,484 to purchase and install playground equipment to be used in both programs, he said.

Aug 19, 2015→

Ribbon Cutting & Open House

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Beal cuts the ribbon during a ceremony for the new JPS Montessori Center and Felician Children's Center on August 19, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. Followed by the Open House. About 100 guests attended the Open House for the new Felician Children’s Center and Jackson Public Montessori School.

Sept 2, 2015→

Stacy Wables, Licensing Consultant sent Felician Children’s Center the official document of licensing for the new child care. Capacity is 115 students.

Sept 8, 2015→

Child Care and JPS Montessori officially open. Tracy Smith Jackson, the Director, welcomed 35 children this day. Felician Children’s Center will have a waiting list within a couple of months

Oct 23, 2015→

On October 23, 2015, the Felician Children’s Center Blessing was officiated by Rev. Dennis Spitzley from St. Catherine Laboure in Concord, MI. Dr. Andrea White, President of Felician Services, Inc. began with an opening reflection addressed to those in attendance which were: Felician Sisters from Livonia, MI, the Felician Children’s Center Board Members, Maria Mueller, Administrator and Tracy Smith-Jackson, Director , staff members, parents, as well as staff members from Montessori Center of Our Lady and St. Mary Child’s Center from Livonia, MI. Julie Baker, Principal of Jackson Public Montessori as well as friends of FCC also participated in the Blessing

Feb 9-19, 2016→

Two boys, Chance and Giovanni were taken from their mother and were put in short-term foster care. These two boys, twins, age 3 had witnessed abuse and neglect. The Department of Human Services recommended these boys to our child care. They were the first two boys to be placed in our comfort room. They needed one-on-one supervision, as they were aggressive and violent. They came to Felician Children’s Center from 6:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. On Friday the 19th, the boys were put in permanent foster care in Adrian, MI.

Sept 8, 2015→

Tracy Smith Jackson began her ad hoc staff committee to begin working toward the Great Start to Quality Program. Some cute pictures of the children in July.

Oct 23, 2015→

The Felician Children’s Center’s Nov. 4 “Gathering Luncheon” at The Pointe Bar & Grill restaurant on Clark Lake brought together about 40 people who once were staff members, volunteers, or children living at the St. Joseph Home for Boys or, later, the St. Joseph Home for Children, in Jackson. The day’s theme was “Tying the Past to the Future.” “We wanted the children, now adults of at least middle age, to be able to reconnect with each other and with the Felician Sisters,” said Mary Cunningham DeLuca.

Nov 4, 2017→

“They shared stories of their days at the homes, what the Felician Sisters provided for them as children, and how their lives turned out. “It was important to have the reunion to ensure the legacy and memories of the past were documented and shared with the next generation. The Felician Sisters’ numbers are dwindling as the current Sisters age; we want to ensure their missions continue,” Cunningham DeLuca said. 12 men below had lived at St. Joseph Home for Boys (and Children) growing up.

Dec 18 & 21, 2017→

Great Start Evaluators were on FCC site observing the Kindergarten Readiness classroom and Wonderful Ones classrooms, respectively

Jan 2018→

Congratulations to Tracy Smith Jackson, Director for all the work she did with her staff to get a FIVE STAR rating from Great Start to Quality. The Five Star rating is the best and it helps get the money needed to help with children in need.

Aug 7, 2018→

Maria Mueller, CEO resigns from Montessori Center of Our Lady, St. Mary Child Care and Felician Children’s Center. Tracy Smith Jackson became the President/Director of Felician Children’s Center. Karen Richter is the temporary CEO.

Jan - Dec 2019→

Great Start Evaluators were on FCC site observing the Kindergarten Readiness classroom and Wonderful Ones classrooms, respectively

Nov 2018- June 2019→

JPS begins taking bids to sell the building. In June, Tracy Smith Jackson and Board met with Jeff Beal, Superintendent to discuss building contract at Bennett School.

Nov 18, 2019→

The Jackson School Board has agreed to sell the space to John George Home for $325,000. John George Home is a senior home bordering the north side of the school property

Nov 2019-Feb 2020→

Tracy Smith Jackson, CEO, the FCC Board, work with Jeff Beal, Superintendent at JPS to finalize a contract with them to lease 10 rooms at Bennett School in Jackson, MI.

March 2020→

The beginning of March Felician Children’s Center is at their peak with enrollment. This includes a big waiting list that has been an ever-present blessing for FCC. FCC ministered to 115 children. COVID begins to spread throughout the U.S. Governor Whitmore shuts down the state due to the spread of the virus. Staff members are laid off and only essential workers are allowed to have child care

April 2020→

April 2, 2020, Tracy Smith Jackson, CEO closed FCC due to the COVID Pandemic being so high in Michigan. There were 35 children when she closed. All staff went on unemployment. Tracy and Kamijha Bonn, Katie Smith and Amy Russ stayed on and cleaned all the rooms. Tracy re-opened for essential workers as mandated by the State of Michigan on April 27, 2020. The Felician Sisters lost 11 Sisters from Livonia, MI during this month.

May 2020→

The re-opening of FCC had 50 children enrolled and included full and part time students of essential workers. Tracy Smith Jackson, following the CDC guidelines for COVID, trained her staff for a new normal. The re-opening of the state changed from week to week. Tracy was also busy working at Bennett School to get things ready for licensing. S. M. Madeleine Dolan, who ministered at the Porter Street St. Joseph Home for Children died on Mother’s Day, another COVID victim.

June 2020→

Tracy and her husband Gary Smith worked hard to fix up the Felician Children’s Center’s new facility on Bennett Street. There was a lot of work to be done. Staff Members Emily Pereza, Katie Smith, Kamijha Bonn and Amy Russ were main employees who moved and worked at the new building. The Sisters, and other staff members were also there doing behind the scenes cleaning.

July 2, 2020→

Last day at FCC on 205 Seymour Ave. Jackson, MI 49202. 88 children were enrolled

July 6 & 7, 2020→

Tracy Smith Jackson, CEO has an Open House for parents following COVID guidelines. She gave trainings to the staff on emergency procedures, COVID guidelines and staff worked on the final touches before opening the next day.

The last week of June Licensing came. Tracy Smith Jackson, CEO, received a letter that we were licensed starting July 7, 2020

July 7, 2020→

First day at Felician Children’s Center, 820 Bennett St. Jackson, MI 49202. We began with 88 children, by the end of July we had 98 children.